OCR A-Level Physics 2027 Predicted Practice Paper — Exploring Physics

Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided. You must write down all the stages in your working.

Section A

Multiple choice. Answer ALL the questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-A1 (1 mark)

  A car of mass 900 kg travels around a flat circular track of radius 40 m at a constant speed of 12 m/s. What is the magnitude of the resultant horizontal force acting on the car? A) 270 N B) 3240 N C) 1440 N D) 8820 N

  A. 270 NB. 3240 NC. 1440 ND. 8820 N

  (Total for Question SECTION-A1 is 1 mark)
• 2

  Question SECTION-A2 (1 mark)

  Which of the following quantities is a scalar? A) Displacement B) Momentum C) Work done D) Acceleration

  A. DisplacementB. MomentumC. Work doneD. Acceleration

  (Total for Question SECTION-A2 is 1 mark)
• 3

  Question SECTION-A3 (1 mark)

  A body undergoes simple harmonic motion with amplitude A and angular frequency w. What is its maximum acceleration? A) wA B) w^2 A C) w A^2 D) A / w^2

  A. wAB. w^2 AC. w A^2D. A / w^2

  (Total for Question SECTION-A3 is 1 mark)
• 4

  Question SECTION-A4 (1 mark)

  A capacitor of capacitance 220 microfarad is charged to a potential difference of 9.0 V. How much charge is stored? A) 2.0 x 10^-3 C B) 2.4 x 10^-5 C C) 4.1 x 10^-2 C D) 1.98 x 10^-2 C

  A. 2.0 x 10^-3 CB. 2.4 x 10^-5 CC. 4.1 x 10^-2 CD. 1.98 x 10^-2 C

  (Total for Question SECTION-A4 is 1 mark)
• 5

  Question SECTION-A5 (1 mark)

  The activity of a radioactive source falls from 800 Bq to 100 Bq in 24 minutes. What is the half-life of the source? A) 3 minutes B) 6 minutes C) 8 minutes D) 12 minutes

  A. 3 minutesB. 6 minutesC. 8 minutesD. 12 minutes

  (Total for Question SECTION-A5 is 1 mark)
• 6

  Question SECTION-A6 (1 mark)

  A photon has a wavelength of 5.0 x 10^-7 m. Using h = 6.63 x 10^-34 J s and c = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s, what is its energy? A) 4.0 x 10^-19 J B) 1.3 x 10^-27 J C) 3.3 x 10^-40 J D) 2.5 x 10^-19 J

  A. 4.0 x 10^-19 JB. 1.3 x 10^-27 JC. 3.3 x 10^-40 JD. 2.5 x 10^-19 J

  (Total for Question SECTION-A6 is 1 mark)
• 7

  Question SECTION-A7 (1 mark)

  An ideal gas is held at constant volume. If its absolute temperature is doubled, what happens to its pressure? A) It halves B) It stays the same C) It doubles D) It quadruples

  A. It halvesB. It stays the sameC. It doublesD. It quadruples

  (Total for Question SECTION-A7 is 1 mark)
• 8

  Question SECTION-A8 (1 mark)

  A satellite orbits a planet in a circular orbit. If the orbital radius is increased, which quantity increases? A) Orbital speed B) Gravitational field strength at the orbit C) Orbital period D) Centripetal acceleration

  A. Orbital speedB. Gravitational field strength at the orbitC. Orbital periodD. Centripetal acceleration

  (Total for Question SECTION-A8 is 1 mark)
• 9

  Question SECTION-A9 (1 mark)

  A transformer has 200 turns on the primary and 50 turns on the secondary. The primary voltage is 240 V. Assuming the transformer is ideal, what is the secondary voltage? A) 960 V B) 60 V C) 120 V D) 30 V

  A. 960 VB. 60 VC. 120 VD. 30 V

  (Total for Question SECTION-A9 is 1 mark)
• 10

  Question SECTION-A10 (1 mark)

  Which statement correctly describes the electric field between two parallel charged plates a small distance apart? A) Radial and decreasing with distance from one plate B) Uniform in magnitude and direction C) Zero everywhere between the plates D) Circular around the plates

  A. Radial and decreasing with distance from one plateB. Uniform in magnitude and directionC. Zero everywhere between the platesD. Circular around the plates

  (Total for Question SECTION-A10 is 1 mark)
• 11

  Question SECTION-A11 (1 mark)

  A stationary wave is set up on a string fixed at both ends, vibrating in its third harmonic. How many nodes are present (including the two ends)? A) 2 B) 3 C) 4 D) 6

  A. 2B. 3C. 4D. 6

  (Total for Question SECTION-A11 is 1 mark)
• 12

  Question SECTION-A12 (1 mark)

  A proton moves at constant velocity into a uniform magnetic field, travelling parallel to the field lines. What is the magnetic force on the proton? A) Maximum, perpendicular to its motion B) Zero C) Directed along its motion D) Directed opposite to its motion

  A. Maximum, perpendicular to its motionB. ZeroC. Directed along its motionD. Directed opposite to its motion

  (Total for Question SECTION-A12 is 1 mark)
• 13

  Question SECTION-A13 (1 mark)

  The mean kinetic energy of a molecule of an ideal gas is directly proportional to which quantity? A) Pressure of the gas B) Volume of the gas C) Absolute temperature of the gas D) Number of molecules present

  A. Pressure of the gasB. Volume of the gasC. Absolute temperature of the gasD. Number of molecules present

  (Total for Question SECTION-A13 is 1 mark)
• 14

  Question SECTION-A14 (1 mark)

  A capacitor discharges through a resistor. The time constant of the circuit is 5.0 s. After how long does the charge fall to 1/e of its initial value? A) 2.5 s B) 5.0 s C) 10 s D) 3.5 s

  A. 2.5 sB. 5.0 sC. 10 sD. 3.5 s

  (Total for Question SECTION-A14 is 1 mark)
• 15

  Question SECTION-A15 (1 mark)

  Two point masses are separated by a distance r. If the distance is increased to 3r, the gravitational force between them becomes: A) 3 times larger B) 9 times larger C) 1/3 of its original value D) 1/9 of its original value

  A. 3 times largerB. 9 times largerC. 1/3 of its original valueD. 1/9 of its original value

  (Total for Question SECTION-A15 is 1 mark)

Section B

Structured and extended response questions. Answer ALL the questions.

• 1

  Question SECTION-B1 (6 marks)

  A student investigates the motion of a mass on a spring performing simple harmonic motion. The mass is 0.25 kg and the spring constant is 40 N/m. (a) State what is meant by simple harmonic motion. (2 marks) (b) Calculate the angular frequency of the oscillation. (2 marks) (c) The amplitude of the oscillation is 0.060 m. Calculate the maximum speed of the mass. (2 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B1 is 6 marks)
• 2

  Question SECTION-B2 (8 marks)

  A geostationary satellite orbits the Earth. The mass of the Earth is 6.0 x 10^24 kg and G = 6.67 x 10^-11 N m^2 kg^-2. (a) State two features of a geostationary orbit. (2 marks) (b) Show that the orbital radius of a geostationary satellite is approximately 4.2 x 10^7 m. Use an orbital period of 24 hours. (4 marks) (c) Explain why the gravitational force on the satellite does no work on it during the orbit. (2 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B2 is 8 marks)
• 3

  Question SECTION-B3 (7 marks)

  A 470 microfarad capacitor is charged through a 15 kilo-ohm resistor from a 6.0 V supply. (a) Calculate the time constant of the circuit. (2 marks) (b) Calculate the charge stored on the capacitor when it is fully charged. (2 marks) (c) The capacitor is then discharged through the same resistor. Calculate the potential difference across the capacitor 10 s after discharge begins. (3 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B3 is 7 marks)
• 4

  Question SECTION-B4 (9 marks)

  A coil of wire is connected to a sensitive voltmeter. A bar magnet is moved into the coil. (a) State Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. (2 marks) (b) State Lenz's law and explain how it is a consequence of the conservation of energy. (3 marks) (c) A single square coil of side 0.080 m has 250 turns. It is placed perpendicular to a magnetic field that changes uniformly from 0.20 T to 0.60 T in 0.50 s. Calculate the magnitude of the average induced emf. (4 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B4 is 9 marks)
• 5

  Question SECTION-B5 (8 marks)

  A fixed mass of an ideal gas is contained in a cylinder fitted with a frictionless piston. The gas has a volume of 2.4 x 10^-3 m^3 at a pressure of 1.0 x 10^5 Pa and a temperature of 300 K. (R = 8.31 J K^-1 mol^-1, Boltzmann constant k = 1.38 x 10^-23 J K^-1.) (a) Calculate the number of moles of gas present. (2 marks) (b) Calculate the number of gas molecules present. (2 marks) (c) The gas is heated at constant pressure until its volume increases to 3.0 x 10^-3 m^3. Calculate the new temperature of the gas. (2 marks) (d) State one assumption of the kinetic theory of ideal gases. (1 mark)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B5 is 8 marks)
• 6

  Question SECTION-B6 (7 marks)

  An electron is accelerated from rest through a potential difference of 2500 V. (charge of electron e = 1.6 x 10^-19 C, mass of electron m = 9.11 x 10^-31 kg.) (a) Calculate the kinetic energy gained by the electron in joules. (2 marks) (b) Calculate the final speed of the electron. (3 marks) (c) The electron then enters a uniform magnetic field of flux density 3.0 x 10^-3 T at right angles to the field. Calculate the radius of the circular path it follows. (2 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B6 is 7 marks)
• 7

  Question SECTION-B7 (8 marks)

  The nuclide radium-226 (Ra, proton number 88) decays by alpha emission to radon (Rn). (a) Write a balanced nuclear equation for this decay, giving the proton number and nucleon number of the radon nucleus produced. (2 marks) (b) The mass defect for this decay is 8.8 x 10^-30 kg. Calculate the energy released in the decay. (c = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s.) (2 marks) (c) Explain why the alpha particle carries away most of the kinetic energy released, rather than the radon nucleus. (2 marks) (d) State what is meant by the binding energy of a nucleus. (2 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B7 is 8 marks)
• 8

  Question SECTION-B8 (9 marks)

  A student sets up a simple pendulum to investigate resonance and damping. (a) Explain what is meant by the natural frequency of an oscillating system. (1 mark) (b) Explain the phenomenon of resonance, referring to the driving frequency and the natural frequency. (3 marks) (c) Sketch and describe how the amplitude of forced oscillations varies with driving frequency, and describe how this graph changes when the degree of damping is increased. (5 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B8 is 9 marks)
• 9

  Question SECTION-B9 (7 marks)

  A uniform electric field exists between two horizontal parallel plates separated by 12 mm. The potential difference across the plates is 600 V. (a) Calculate the electric field strength between the plates. (2 marks) (b) A small charged oil drop of mass 3.2 x 10^-15 kg is held stationary between the plates. Calculate the magnitude of the charge on the oil drop. (g = 9.81 m/s^2.) (3 marks) (c) State and explain how many excess electrons are on the oil drop. (e = 1.6 x 10^-19 C.) (2 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B9 is 7 marks)
• 10

  Question SECTION-B10 (8 marks)

  A ball of mass 0.20 kg is thrown vertically upwards from ground level with an initial speed of 15 m/s. Air resistance is negligible. (g = 9.81 m/s^2.) (a) Calculate the maximum height reached by the ball. (3 marks) (b) Calculate the total time the ball is in the air before returning to the ground. (2 marks) (c) Explain, in terms of energy, what happens to the kinetic and gravitational potential energy of the ball as it rises and then falls. (3 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B10 is 8 marks)
• 11

  Question SECTION-B11 (8 marks)

  A student uses a laser of wavelength 630 nm and a diffraction grating to measure the number of lines per millimetre on the grating. (a) The first-order maximum is observed at an angle of 22 degrees to the straight-through direction. Calculate the spacing d of the lines on the grating. (3 marks) (b) Calculate the number of lines per millimetre on the grating. (2 marks) (c) Determine the highest order of maximum that can be observed with this grating and laser. (3 marks)

  (Total for Question SECTION-B11 is 8 marks)